Height extender

ABSTRACT

A height extender having a foot engaging member in the form of a plate provided with straps for retaining a foot thereon, and a spacing and supporting arrangement extending from the foot engaging member for spacing same a predetermined distance from a support surface. This arrangement may be a pair of spaced, parallel supports cantilever mounted on the foot engaging means. A resilient element is connected to the foot engaging member and the pair of supports to provide a cushion or yield effect for the height extender, which is essentially an article of footwear. When the supports are specially long, one or more bridge members are connected to the supports along the longitudinal extent of same as braces, with each bridge member having a resilient element associated therewith.

United States Patent Sakamoto HEIGHT EXTENDER Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson jflt mey, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBri Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A height extender having a foot engaging member in the form of a plate provided with straps for retaining a foot thereon, and a spacing and supporting arrangement extending from the foot engaging member for spacing same a predetermined distance from a support surface. This arrangement may be a pair of spaced, parallel supports cantilever mounted on the foot engaging means. A resilient element is connected to the foot engaging member and the pair of supports to provide a cushion or yield effect for the height extender, which is essentially an article of footwear. When the supports are specially long, one or more bridge members are connected to the supports along the longitudinal extent of same as braces, with each bridge member having a resilient element associated therewith.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDwceo rm SIEHINZ HEIGHT EXTENDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a height extender, and particularly to an elevating foot attachment.

2. Description of the Prior Art Devices are known that are attachable to the human foot for elevating persons involved in overhead construction, and the like. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 1,930,363 issued Oct. 10, 1933 to D. D. Knox, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,802,217, issued Aug. 13, 1957 to H. .l. Wilhoyte. These two prior art devices employ supporting runners arranged extending parallel to the sole of a users foot, and have resilient elements associated with the supporting runners for providing a resilient or yielding spring effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device enabling construction craftsmen, such as plasterers, carpenters, painters, and the like, to work at heights somewhat above their reach.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a height extending device that is also useful in the manner of clogs for ordinary use.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a height extending device that is adaptable to various predetermined heights while retaining desired yielding effects, and the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a height extender article of footwear which is simple yet sturdy of construction, and lends itself to aesthetic appeal enhancing its use with ordinary streetwear.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a height extender having: a foot engaging member, and an arrangement connected to and arranged extending from the foot engaging member for spacing same a predetermined distance from a supporting surface. Preferably, the spacing arrangement has a pair of spaced, parallel supports connected to and arranged extending codirectionally from the foot engaging member, and a resilient element connected to the foot engaging member and the pair of supports.

The resilient element is advantageously a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends, with the ends connected to the supports and a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected to the foot engaging member.

When the supports are specially long, one or more bridge members are advantageously connected to the supports so as to extend between them in a plane parallel to and spaced from the foot engaging member. Each of these bridge members used has a resilient element associated with it and connected to the supports and the bridge member in a manner similar to the connection of the aforementioned leaf spring.

Resilient pads are advantageously associated with the free or support surface contacting ends of the supports, while replaceable straps facilitate retention of a human foot, and the like, on the foot engaging member.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a height extender according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing the height extender of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing in detail a foot retaining strap according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, transverse vertical, sectional view showing in detail the attachment of a strap such as shown in FIG. 4 to a height extender according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the detail of FIG. 5 with the strap removed.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view showing a detail of a height extender according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic, side elevational view showing another embodiment of a height extender according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly cut away, showing yet another preferred embodiment of a height extender according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line llll of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a height extender 10 according to the present invention has a foot engaging member 12 and a pair of longitudinally extending supports 14 connected to and arranged extending from member 12 for spacing member 12 a predetermined distance from a supporting surface S. As can be appreciated from the drawings, supports 14 are arranged extending perpendicularly and codirectionally from member 12, and are substantially parallel to one another. A resilient element, which may be a, for example, conventional longitudinal leaf spring 16 having a pair of spaced ends, is connected to member 12 and supports 14. The ends of spring 16 are connected to supports 14, with a portion of spring 16 intermediate its ends connected to foot engaging member 12. This arrangement of the spring causes it to be normally flexed so as to provide a resilient or yielding effect for height extender 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 3, member 12 is provided with sockets l8 and 20 for releasably attaching foot retaining straps 22 and 24, respectively, to member 12. A heel strap 26 is connected to strap 24 to complete the foot retaining arrangement. As is readily seen from the drawings, strap 22, 24, and 26 may be provided with suitable, known fasteners, such as the illustrated buckles, for facilitating the retention and release of a foot F. As can best be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, each strap forming the straps 22 and 24 has a headed end 28 selectively and removably arrangeable in an associated socket I8 and 20. Each socket l8 and 20 has a slot 30 provided therein and communicating with the recess receiving headed end 28. Accordingly, the straps may be received in slot 30 as the headed ends 28 slide into sockets 18 and 20 from the open end thereof, as is best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. In this manner, the straps may be replaced as desired without the need for special tools, and the like.

A pair of resilient pads, constructed from any suitable, known resilient material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, and designated 32 in the drawings, are associated with the pair of supports 14. As can best be seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, each support 14 is provided with a clip 34 in the form of a base or backplate having converging, longitudinally extending, peripheral flanges 35 arranged for retainingly embracing flanges 36 provided on pads 32. This arrangement permits pads 32 to be slidably placed on and removed from the free or support surface contacting ends of supports 14 by insertion of flanges 36 into clips 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, a height extender 38 according to the present invention is provided with a pair of supports 40 similar to supports 14, but of substantially greater length. A plurality of bridge members 42 are shown as connected to supports 40 so as to extend between same, and arranged parallel to and spaced from the foot engaging member 12. A further resilient element, that may be in the form of a leaf spring 44, is associated with each bridge member 42, and is connected to bridge member 42 and supports 40 in a manner similar to the connection of spring 16. The connection of spring 16 and springs 44 may be achieved by, for example, welding, brazing, and the like, when member 12 and supports 40 are constructed from a, for example, suitable metal by any conventional fabrication process. lf wood, cork, synthetic resins, and the like, are used in place ofa metal to construct member 12 and supports 14 and 40, connection may be realized as by the use of a suitable adhesive, and the like. Supports 14 and 40 may be provided with bracing ribs as is desired; ribs 15 and 41, respectively, being shown.

It will be appreciated from the above description and from the drawings that a height extender 10, 38 according to the present invention will provide a simple yet rugged device for lifting, spacing, or jacking a user a desired distance while preserving the important yielding effect in supports 14 and 40. Although not illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that supports 40 could be formed from a plurality of interlocking supports 14 if so desired. This arrangement would permit any desired length of support to be quickly constructed by connecting together a number of modules forming the supports 14.

FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings show height extender 46 according to the present invention in which the support 48 is a unitary piece similar to a conventional clog. This support 48 engages a foot engaging member 50 in a conventional manner and is provided with straps 52 and 54 which are attached to member 50 in any suitable, known manner. Although not specifically illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is to be understood that straps 52 and 54 may be attached to member 50 as by the use of sockets similar to sockets 18 and 20. A pair of resilient pads 56 may be connected to those points of foot engaging member 50 which contact a supporting surface (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) on which height extender 46 is resting. The connection of pads 56 may be achieved in any conventional manner.

Height extender 46 is specifically intended for conventional casual wear, and the like, and its support 48 and member 50 may be constructed from, for example, wood, cork, synthetic resins, and the like, while straps 52 may be constructed from leather or a suitable synthetic material, and pads 56 may be constructed from rubber, and the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and oparation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A height extender, comprising, in combination:

a. a foot engaging member; and

b. means connected to and arranged extending from the foot engaging member for spacing same a predetermined distance from a supporting surface, the means for spacing including:

i. a pair of spaced, parallel supports connected to an arranged extending perpendicularly and codirectionally from the foot engaging member, at least one bridge member connected to the supports and arranged parallel to and spaced from the foot engaging member; and

ii. a resilient element connected to the foot engaging member and the pair of supports, and a further resilient member connected to the supports and the bridge member.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the back of the resilient elements is a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends, and the ends are connected to the supports, with a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected to the associated one of the foot engaging member and the bridge members.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the foot engaging member is provided with socket means for releasably attaching foot retaining straps to the foot engaging member.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads on a free end of the support 5. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads on a free end of the support.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient element is a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends, and the ends are connected to the supports, with a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected to the associated one of the foot engaging member and the bridge members.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the foot engaging member is provided with socket means for releasably attaching foot retaining straps to the foot engaging member.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with 6 means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads c. a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced on a free end of the support. ends connected to the supports, and a portion of 9. A height extender, comprising, in combination: the spring intermediate the ends connected directly a. a foot engaging member; to the foot engaging member, with the spring being b. a pair of spaced, parallel supports affixed to and 5 arranged in an arcuate, flexed configuration so as arranged extending perpendicularly and codirecto provide a yielding effect. tionally from the foot engaging member; and 

1. A height extender, comprising, in combination: a. a foot engaging member; and b. mEans connected to and arranged extending from the foot engaging member for spacing same a predetermined distance from a supporting surface, the means for spacing including: i. a pair of spaced, parallel supports connected to an arranged extending perpendicularly and codirectionally from the foot engaging member, at least one bridge member connected to the supports and arranged parallel to and spaced from the foot engaging member; and ii. a resilient element connected to the foot engaging member and the pair of supports, and a further resilient member connected to the supports and the bridge member.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the back of the resilient elements is a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends, and the ends are connected to the supports, with a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected to the associated one of the foot engaging member and the bridge members.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the foot engaging member is provided with socket means for releasably attaching foot retaining straps to the foot engaging member.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads on a free end of the support
 5. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads on a free end of the support.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient element is a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends, and the ends are connected to the supports, with a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected to the associated one of the foot engaging member and the bridge members.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the foot engaging member is provided with socket means for releasably attaching foot retaining straps to the foot engaging member.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of resilient pads are associated with the pair of supports, each of these supports being provided with means for selectively mounting one of the resilient pads on a free end of the support.
 9. A height extender, comprising, in combination: a. a foot engaging member; b. a pair of spaced, parallel supports affixed to and arranged extending perpendicularly and codirectionally from the foot engaging member; and c. a longitudinal leaf spring having a pair of spaced ends connected to the supports, and a portion of the spring intermediate the ends connected directly to the foot engaging member, with the spring being arranged in an arcuate, flexed configuration so as to provide a yielding effect. 